Front hood assembly

Abstract

A vehicle front hood hinge mechanism uses at least one spring-loaded hinge for securing the front hood to the body of the automobile, which front hood is deflected upon impact with a pedestrian against a vertical spring force. One linkage of the hinge is coupled to the automobile body by a sliding linkage arm that is displaced horizontally against a spring bias.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A front hood assembly for attachment to a vehicle, comprising 
       a front hood;  
       at least one hood lock for closing said front hood, and  
       at least one hinge for coupling said front hood to a frame of said vehicle, said at least one hinge being of resilient design and comprising at least one joint,  
       a stressing means for providing a vertical resistance, wherein said vertical resistance can be overcome, by a force pivoting said front hood about said hood lock, and  
       a link that connects said at least one joint of said hinge to said frame, said link being displaceably arranged.  
     
     
       2. The front hood assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , 
       wherein said hinge is a single-joint hinge.  
     
     
       3. The front hood assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , 
       wherein said hinge is a four-joint hinge.  
     
     
       4. The front hood assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , 
       wherein a link of said four-joint hinge is displaceable with respect to said frame.  
     
     
       5. The front hood assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , 
       wherein said link is prestressed by spring force in a bearing.  
     
     
       6. The front hood assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , 
       wherein said stressing means comprises a compressible spring.  
     
     
       7. The front hood assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , 
       wherein said stressing means comprises a vertically arranged latch bar, vertical displacement of which is decelerated by horizontally arranged spring elements.  
     
     
       8. The front hood assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , 
       wherein said force comprises a first force against the front hood and said stressing means by provides a second force in the opposite direction of said first force.  
     
     
       9. The front hood assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , 
       wherein said hinge, when, in a non-deflected position, is of resilient design.  
     
     
       10. A motor vehicle, comprising 
       a frame,  
       a front hood coupled to said frame of the vehicle via at least one hinge, and  
       a hood lock for closing said front hood,  
       wherein said at least one hinge is of resilient design and comprises a stressing means for providing a vertical resistance, wherein said vertical resistance can be overcome by a force against said front hood, said force comprising a vertical force component,  
       at least one link connecting a joint of said hinge to said frame, and  
       wherein said at least one link is arranged in a displaceable manner relative to said frame.  
     
     
       11. The motor vehicle as claimed in  claim 10 , 
       wherein said stressing means comprises a spring.  
     
     
       12. The motor vehicle as claimed in  claim 10 , 
       wherein said stressing means comprises a latch bar substantially arranged vertically and a spring urging against said latch bar,  
       such that when said front hood and said latch bar are displaced downwardly, said spring is compressed and provides a resistance against the downward direction of displacement.  
     
     
       13. The motor vehicle as claimed in  claim 10 , 
       wherein said hinge is a four-joint hinge comprising a first link and a second link,  
       wherein each of said first link and said second link comprises a front-hood joint and a frame joint,  
       wherein said stressing means comprises a spring urging against at least one of said front-hood joints, and  
       wherein said frame joint of the link coupled to said one of said front-hood joints is displaceably connected to said frame.  
     
     
       14. The motor vehicle as claimed in  claim 10 , 
       wherein said front hood is, in a non-deflected position, disposed in an elevated position with respect to an overload position,  
       such that, in the event of a pedestrian impact, said front hood is already in a position enabling said front hood to damp the impact.